NEWARK, Del. – The Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame Committee and the Office of Women’s Advancement and Advocacy, with support from the Delaware Department of Human Resources, inducted seven outstanding women into the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame Wednesday evening.

 

This year’s inductees have made significant contributions to the lives of Delawareans. The inductees include Anne Canby, Alice Dunbar-Nelson, Carolyn Fredricks, Teri Quinn Gray, Ilona Holland, Dr. Karyl Rattay, and Aida Waserstein.

 

“It is our honor to recognize these women and their positive impact on our community through this induction ceremony,” said Governor Carney. “Anne Canby, Alice Dunbar-Nelson, Carolyn Fredricks, Teri Quinn Gray, Ilona Holland, Dr. Karyl Rattay, and Aida Waserstein are true role models, and it is our honor to give them the recognition they deserve.”

 

“In addition to the contributions and abiding inspiration provided by the individual honorees, there is a sense of generational connection,” said First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney. “It’s a sense of doors opening, one by one, hardly ever with the first push, and never by just one hand. Thanks to our honorees, past and present, we have so much to celebrate, even as we see so much still to do.”

 

A pioneer in transportation, Anne Canby was the first women to lead the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) in 1993 and was Deputy Director of Transportation during the Carter Administration.

 

“My induction is not just of my work, but that of everyone who actually did the work,” said Anne Canby.

 

The late Alice Dunbar-Nelson was a suffragist, poet, activist, and educator at Howard High School in Wilmington.

 

“[Alice questioned] whether or not future generations would have the opportunity to learn about her legacy. But thanks to the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame selecting her as one of this year’s inductees, people will know her story and her impact in the state of Delaware and beyond,” said Monet Lewis-Timmons who championed Dunbar-Nelson’s nomination and accepted the award on her behalf.

 

Carolyn Fredricks is the Executive Director of the Modern Maturity Center and longtime advocate for Delaware seniors.

 

“For 50 years I have been doing a job I absolutely love,” said Carolyn Fredricks. “Not many people can say that. I love the people and I love the staff. It has been my honor and privilege to be of service to the older adults of Kent County.”

 

A former DuPont scientist, Teri Quinn Gray, now works as Chief Operating Officer at the science-based crop protection company, Provivi, in California.

 

“I bring greetings in the spirit of Ubuntu, an African concept that self-identity is understood best through community,” said Teri Quinn Gray. “Tonight, is a testament of this. Whereas I am because we are, we are because I am.”

 

Ilona Holland is a children’s educator with a focus on literacy. She has consulted on children’s educational TV programming, authored numerous children’s books, and is a partner with the Delaware State Library system. Addressing the young people in the room, Holland encouraged them to look for role models, never give-up, to ask for and accept help, and to pass on their kindness.

 

“If you embrace these principles, you will experience incredible personal rewards, you will make a difference, and you too will find a place in someone’s hall of fame,” said Ilona Holland.

 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Karyl Rattay served as Director of Delaware’s Division of Public Health. She holds the longest tenure in the role.

 

“I am proud of what we did to improve Public Health as an agency, along with the health of our residents… It has been the greatest honor of my lifetime to serve Delawareans in this role,” said Dr. Karyl Rattay.

 

Aida Waserstein is a retired judge of the Family Court of Delaware. She has written several children’s books with the goal of helping foster children by telling her own immigrant story.

 

“We are all stronger when we welcome people of other backgrounds, with distinct languages, skills, talents and world views. The result is a fresh outlook and innovative ideas that nourish our society and makes us better people with deeper foundations of caring and understanding,” said Aida Waserstein.

 

The Hall of Fame of Delaware Women was established in 1981 and is the oldest annual celebration of its kind commemorating Delaware women. Eligible women must have been born in Delaware or resided in the state for minimum of ten years.

Multifaceted campaign is underway to help bolster the workforce for all state agencies and services in Delaware

DOVER, Del. (Aug. 3, 2022) — The Delaware Department of Human Resources (DHR) has launched a multifaceted marketing communications campaign aimed at bolstering the workforce for all state agencies. The strategies underway focus on recruiting quality candidates for many of the state’s high-demand positions, including nurses, corporation specialists, employment services specialists, unemployment insurance claims processors and field agents, vocational rehabilitation counselors, disability determination adjudicators, and law enforcement officers across multiple agencies.

Delaware, like public and private-sector employers nationwide, is in the grips of acute worker shortages driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, an imbalance between the technical skills required and the positions available, and generational changes regarding work-life balance. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there are 5.5 million more job openings in the U.S. than there are workers available to fill them.

“State workers come to work each day to serve their fellow Delawareans and have been stretched thin,” said Gov. John Carney. “Our efforts have two objectives: finding qualified candidates, especially for high-demand positions, and easing the strain on state agencies that have been operating short-staffed for a while. By strengthening our workforce, we can make sure Delaware remains a state focused on opportunity and positioned to support a thriving economy well into the future.”

The campaign officially started in mid-June and is designed to educate jobseekers from Delaware and neighboring states about the variety of positions available, as well as motivate them to “explore, apply, and succeed.”

“Our marketing campaign to spread the word about careers in state government is part of a larger effort to recruit and retain dedicated employees,” said DHR Secretary Claire DeMatteis. “This integrated plan will motivate people from all walks of life to apply for and embrace state employment based on exceptional benefits and a public service mission. Thanks to Gov. Carney and the members of the Delaware General Assembly, we are significantly increasing state employee salaries to be more competitive with the private sector, offering signing and retention bonuses for high-demand jobs, and continuing to offer the best health care and retirement benefits to our dedicated employees.”

The state’s marketing communications campaign, which continues through October, integrates radio; social media; and outdoor, transit, and digital advertising.

StateJobs.Delaware.gov provides everything an individual needs to explore all opportunities available, understand job descriptions and benefits, and apply.

Media Contact:
Karen Smith, Communications Director
Cell: 302-505-6090
Karen.M.Smith@delaware.gov

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney announced today that seven women were selected for induction into the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame for 2022. Out of the more than 50 applicants received by the Office of Women’s Advancement and Advocacy and the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame Committee, the Committee chose seven of the top nominees who have made significant contributions in Delaware.

This year’s inductees include:

• Anne Canby, a pioneer in transportation as the first woman to lead the Delaware Department of Transportation (DELDOT) in 1993 and as Deputy Director of Transportation during the Carter Administration.
• Alice Dunbar-Nelson, a late suffragist, poet, activist, and educator at Howard High School in Wilmington. 
• Carolyn Fredricks, the Executive Director of the Modern Maturity Center and longtime advocate for Delaware seniors.
• Teri Quinn Gray, former DuPont scientist, and current Chief Operating Officer at the science-based crop protection company, Provivi, in California.
• Ilona Holland, children’s educator with a focus on literacy. Has consulted on children’s educational TV programming, authored numerous children’s books, and is a partner with the Delaware State Library system.
• Karyl Rattay, former Director of Delaware’s Division of Public Health, served during the COVID pandemic and holds the longest tenure in the role.
• Aida Waserstein, former judge of the Family Court of Delaware. Has also written several books with the goal of helping foster children by telling her own immigrant story.

“It is our honor to recognize these women and their positive impact on our community,” said Governor Carney. “I congratulate them on their selection and thank the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame Committee for choosing another round of remarkable Delaware women for induction into the Hall of Fame.”

“With an incredible pool of applicants this year, the committee had a difficult time narrowing it down to this year’s class of inductees,” said Kay Keenan, Chair of the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame Committee. “The diversity of women we’ve selected comprise an amazing group who have done so much for Delaware in so many different ways, and we are so pleased to be able to honor them in the fall.”

The Hall of Fame of Delaware Women was established in 1981 and is the oldest annual celebration of its kind commemorating Delaware women. Eligible women must have been born in Delaware or resided in the state for minimum of ten years.

“As a small state, it’s important to highlight the big achievements and myriad contributions of Delaware women both past and present,” said Melanie Ross Levin, Director of the Office of Women’s Advancement & Advocacy. “We encourage all Delawareans to learn more about the 2022 Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame inductees and consider nominating someone in the future.” 

Inductees will be recognized at the 41st Annual Hall of Fame of Delaware Women Induction Ceremony. The event will be held this fall, with all details on the event and other Hall of Fame activities available in the coming months at de.gov/women.

View the biographies of the 2022 Honorees and all 160 inductees of the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame here.

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State employees honored for excellence and commitment to public service

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Monday signed a proclamation announcing May 1 – 7, 2022 as Public Service Recognition Week. This week has been celebrated during the first week of May since 1985 to honor the contributions of federal, state, county, and local government employees. Governor Carney, cabinet members, and the business community will recognize the inspirational service and commitment of Delaware’s public servants through a series of videos highlighting the extraordinary work of state employees. 

“Our state employees work hard every day to make Delaware a better place to live and work,” said Governor Carney. “These past few years have been especially challenging, but we are moving forward thanks to the commitment and perseverance of our employees. With the support of Delaware’s business community, we are able to present some of our most outstanding employees with well-deserved awards. I’d like to thank all of our public servants for their work to improve the lives of Delawareans.”

During Public Service Recognition Week, individuals and teams of state employees will be honored for their excellence and commitment to public service in the last year – including employees who identified innovative new ways to deliver state services, and those who demonstrated acts of heroism and courage. 

Awards will be presented in the following categories:

• Tuesday, May 3 – Delaware Award for Excellence and Commitment in State Service 
• Wednesday, May 4 – Governor’s Team Excellence Award (Champions Award, Commitment Award)
• Thursday, May 5 – GEAR P3 Innovation & Efficiency Award and GEAR P3 Trailblazer Award
• Friday, May 6 – Delaware Award for Heroism

 

Recognition videos will premiere each day at 11:00 a.m. on youtube.com/johncarneyde.

 

Delaware Award for Excellence and Commitment in State Service Award

The Delaware Award for Excellence and Commitment in State Service Award is presented to up to five State of Delaware employees, or small groups of up to five employees, who exemplify the highest standards of excellence and commitment in state service. In addition, the GEAR P3 Trailblazer Award provides special recognition for those individuals whose accomplishments demonstrate leadership in application of continuous improvement best practices.

Recipients of the 2021 award are:

• Amber Clendaniel, Department of Human Resources
• Cynthia Coleman, Superior Court
• Anne Fenimore, Gloria Henry, and Vertie Lee (with Sakinaa Rock), Department of State
• Casey Kim, Department of Technology and Information 

 

GEAR P3 Trailblazer Award 

• Holly Reynolds, Department of Finance

 

Governor’s Team Excellence Awards

This award category includes the GEAR P3 Innovation & Efficiency Award; Champions Award; and Commitment Award. The Governor’s Team Excellence Awards, presented annually to a team of six to 20 state employees, encourages teamwork by recognizing groups of state employees for their efforts to use continuous quality improvement tools to excel in leadership, team dynamics and communication to produce superior customer service and tangible results. 

GEAR P3 Innovation & Efficiency Award

This top award is a cooperative initiative between the State of Delaware and the business community. This public private partnership honors teams that not only use continuous quality tools to achieve outstanding outcomes but also develop innovative designs and process, establish best practices, and produce verifiable results that are sustainable, scalable, and adaptable to other areas of government. These teams serve as clear role models for other organizations. The recipient of this year’s award is:

• Delaware Overdose and Police Diversion Program Team, Delaware State Police, Department of Health and Social Services, and Department of Justice

Champions Award 

This award recognizes teams that demonstrated a superior knowledge of continuous quality improvement techniques, produced tangible results, and increased efficiencies, customer satisfaction, or cost savings. Recipients of this year’s award are:

• DelDOT Vaccination Site Coordination Team, Department of Transportation 
• Office of Unclaimed Property Money Match Team, Department of Finance, Office of State Treasurer, and Department of Technology and Information

Commitment Award

This award recognizes teams that demonstrate a commitment to developing and applying quality improvement tools and techniques and achieving results that lead to continuous improvement in their organization. The recipients of this year’s award are:

• iLEAD Delaware Leadership Program Team, Department of Human Resources
• DART Connect Micro-Transit Pilot Program Team, Department of Transportation/Delaware Transit Corporation
• Port of Wilmington Expansion Project Permitting Team, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

 

The GEAR P3 Trailblazer Award and the GEAR P3 Innovation and Efficiency Award were made possible through the support of the Government Efficiency and Accountability Review (GEAR) Board and a Public-Private Partnership (P3) between the State of Delaware and the Delaware business community. Private Sector contributors of the awards include Bank of America, Corporation Service Company (CSC), ChristianaCare, Delmarva Power, Highmark BCBS Delaware, JP Morgan Chase Bank, M&T Bank, The Precisionists Inc. (TPI), W.L. Gore & Associates, and WSFS Bank.

“As chairman of the Governor’s Efficiency & Accountability Review (GEAR) P3 Taskforce for Governor Carney’s GEAR initiative, I am thrilled that the private sector, with the strong backing of the Delaware Business Roundtable and the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, has partnered again with The State of Delaware on the Public-Private Partnership (P3) Governor’s Innovation & Efficiency, and Trailblazer Awards. This program is a terrific step toward better government, and in recognizing state employees and teams on outstanding accomplishments,” said Ernie Dianastasis, CEO of The Precisionists (TPI).

 

Delaware Award for Heroism

The Delaware Award for Heroism, established in 2013, recognizes state employees for acts of heroism and courage. The 2021 recipients are:

• Barbara Bell, Yvette Fenn, Isaac Harris, Alethea Miller, and Diane Penland (with Elena Dill, Amy Fierro, Debra Remner, Melissa Sangare, and Glenroy Warner), Department of Health and Social Services.
• Manuel Carlis and Sabrina Ellerbe, Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families
• Deanna Carnevale and Shane Russell, Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families
• Donald Deputy (with Eric Jensen), Department of Transportation
• Travis Schirmer, Department of Transportation
• Jonathan Simmons and Richard Wyatt, Department of Transportation

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Delaware nonprofits may apply for this year’s campaign through April 22.

DOVER, Del.— The deadline to submit applications to participate in the 2022 State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC) has been extended. Applications will now be accepted through April 22, 2022.

The SECC provides state employees and retirees the opportunity to support organizations whose programs and services benefit the health and welfare of all Delawareans. The campaign runs September 1 through October 31, 2022.

Interested charities must submit their application by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 22, 2022. To learn if your organization is eligible to participate, please review the information on the Resources for Charities page of the SECC website.

For more information, contact Brenda Wyatt, Statewide SECC Coordinator, by email at SECC@delaware.gov or call 302-672-5226.

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